JP4859850B2 - Drinking water server - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a drinking water server in which drinking water such as mineral water stored in a container is stored in a tank, and then the stored drinking water can be appropriately supplied.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, a conventional drinking water server is configured such that a container 1 can be attached to and detached from a water conduit 11 and a pedestal 17 extending upward from a water storage tank 10, and the drinking water w in the container 1 can be removed. However, due to its own weight (due to a drop), it flows down into the water storage tank 10 through the water guide pipe 11.

  The container 1 is molded of a hard resin or the like, and the drinking water w in a state of being sterilized in advance is sealed in a unit of about 20 liters and supplied to the market in a sealed state, for example. It is what. Since the container 1 is formed of a hard resin, the shape is substantially maintained even if the drinking water w inside is reduced.

  As shown in FIG. 6 (b), the drinking water w in the container 1 gradually flows down toward the water storage tank 10, and the air in the water storage tank 10 is gradually introduced into the container 1 through the water conduit 11 ( Gas) a enters and the atmospheric pressure in the container 1 is maintained normally. At the same time, the air a in the water storage tank 10 is discharged to the outside through the vent hole 28 when the drinking water w flows in.

  When the water level in the water storage tank 10 reaches the lower end of the water conduit 11 as shown in FIG. 6 (c), the flow of air a into the container 1 stops. For this reason, the inside of the container 1 is in a so-called negative pressure state due to the flow-down pressure of the drinking water w about to flow down by its own weight, and it is impossible to flow down the drinking water w beyond that. That is, due to the balance between the air pressure acting on the liquid surface in the water storage tank 10 and the air pressure acting on the liquid surface in the container 1, the flow of water from the container 1 to the water storage tank 10 automatically stops. ing.

A water supply pipe 21 is drawn from the water storage tank 10, and a supply valve 20 that can be opened and closed is provided in the water supply pipe 21.
If the supply valve 20 is opened, the drinking water w in the water storage tank 10 can be appropriately supplied to the outside, and if the supply valve 20 is closed, the supply is stopped.

  If the water level in the water storage tank 10 is slightly lowered from the height shown in FIG. 6C due to the supply of the drinking water w from the water pipe 21, the drinking water w in the container 1 is again in the water storage tank 10. Start to flow down. When the water level in the water storage tank 10 reaches the lower end of the water conduit 11 and the air pressure is balanced, the flow stops and the water level in the water storage tank 10 is maintained.

In general, a cooling device (not shown) is provided in the water storage tank 10 to cool the drinking water in the water storage tank 10 and supply it as cold water, but it is heated separately from the water storage tank 10. Beverage provided with a water storage tank 10 (hereinafter referred to as “hot water tank 30”) provided with a device 31, and a hot water tank 30 provided with the heating device 31 and a water storage tank 10 provided with the cooling device connected by a water supply pipe 32 There is also a water server (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-104494 A

According to the drinking water server shown in FIG. 6, the drinking water w in the water storage tank 10 is always in contact with the gas a such as air.
It can be said that it is desirable for hygiene management that the drinking water w does not touch the gas a as much as possible.

  Then, this invention makes it a subject to suppress that drinking water touches gas as much as possible.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is such that a container can be attached to and detached from a water conduit extending upward from a water storage tank, and when water enters the container, drinking water in the container passes through the water conduit. A drinking water server that is designed to flow down into a water storage tank and draws a water supply pipe from the water storage tank and is provided with an openable / closable supply valve in the water supply pipe to supply drinking water in the water storage tank. The gas introduction device is connected to the water conduit so that gas can be introduced into the water conduit from the gas introduction device, and when the inside of the container is in a negative pressure state, the gas introduction device passes through the water conduit. A configuration was adopted in which a gas was allowed to enter the container and the drinking water in the container was caused to flow down into the water storage tank by the gas entering.

When the drinking water in the container tries to flow down to the water storage tank due to the drop, the inside of the container becomes negative pressure, so that gas is introduced from the gas introduction device to the water conduit and the container so as to eliminate the negative pressure. It will be done. When the negative pressure is eliminated, the drinking water again flows from the container to the water storage tank, and the flow ends when the water storage tank eventually becomes full.
As described above, since the gas is introduced from the gas introduction device into the container through the water conduit, the drinking water flows down from the container toward the water storage tank without introducing the gas from the water storage tank toward the container. be able to. For this reason, it becomes unnecessary to allow gas to pass through the water storage tank, and it becomes possible to suppress the drinking water in the water storage tank from touching the gas as much as possible.

  Further, a vent hole is provided at the upper end of the water storage tank, and an exhaust means is provided in the vent hole. When the inside of the water storage tank is filled with the exhaust means, the vent hole is closed to close the inside of the water storage tank. Adopting a configuration that can maintain a full water state and that allows the gas in the water tank to be opened to the outside by opening the vent when the water is in the water tank. Can do.

By providing this exhaust means, when the water storage tank becomes full, the vent hole is closed and the water storage state in the water storage tank is maintained. Further, if gas is present in the water storage tank, the vent is opened and the gas is discharged to the outside. For this reason, it can suppress more reliably that the drinking water in a water storage tank touches gas.
In addition, when gas is present in the water storage tank, if the water storage tank is in a pressurized state due to the presence of the gas, the flow of drinking water from the container may stagnate as it is. If the pressurized state is eliminated, the flow of drinking water can be resumed.

Further, as the exhaust means, when the supply valve is opened in a state where the water storage tank is full, an external gas is not passed into the water storage tank even if the water pressure in the water storage tank becomes negative. Further, it is possible to adopt a configuration that can maintain the negative pressure state in the water storage tank.
If it does in this way, when the water level in a water storage tank falls by opening the said supply valve, the flow of the drinking water from a container to a water storage tank can be accelerated | stimulated.

  As these exhaust means, for example, the vent hole may be opened and closed by a manual operation, or the vent hole may be automatically opened and closed according to the pressure or water level in the water storage tank. .

For example, as the exhaust means, a check valve type exhaust valve that allows gas to move from the inside of the water tank to the outside of the water tank and does not allow gas to move from the outside of the water tank to the inside of the water tank, and the water tank An opening / closing valve having a function of closing the vent hole when the inside becomes full and opening the vent hole when the water level falls from the full water state can be provided.
By providing this exhaust valve, when the gas is mixed in the water storage tank, the vent hole can be automatically opened to release the gas in the water storage tank to the outside. Even if the inside becomes a negative pressure, the negative pressure state in the water storage tank can be maintained without passing outside gas into the water storage tank.
At this time, as a function of the on-off valve, as long as the vent hole can be opened when the water level in the water storage tank is lowered (not full), the exhaust of the gas when the exhaust valve is opened is not hindered, If the vent hole can be closed when the water storage tank is full, drinking water can be prevented from leaking outside.

  In addition, as a configuration of the on-off valve, for example, a configuration in which the vent hole is manually closed when the water is full may be adopted, or the vent hole is automatically generated as the water level in the water storage tank changes. It is good also as a structure which can be opened and closed. As a configuration for automatically opening and closing the vent hole, for example, an open / close valve provided with a float valve body that moves up and down with a change in the water level in the water storage tank can be used. By raising and lowering the float valve body accompanying the fluctuation of the water level, the vent hole can be automatically closed when the water level is full, and the vent hole can be automatically opened when the water level falls from the full water level.

This check valve type exhaust valve is used in combination with an open / close valve equipped with a float valve body. For example, the exhaust valve is located outside (outside the water storage tank) and the open / close valve is inside (water storage) with respect to one vent hole. It can be placed in the tank).
In this way, even if the water level drops from the full state in the water storage tank and the on-off valve opens, the exhaust valve does not open because the water tank is in a negative pressure state. In addition, when gas enters the water storage tank, the water level drops, the open / close valve opens, and the exhaust valve also opens, so that the gas in the water storage tank can be discharged out of the water storage tank.

Further, in this configuration, a check valve that allows only the flow of fluid from the container side to the water storage tank side may be provided below the connection point of the gas introduction device of the water conduit. . In this way, when drinking water flows from the container into the water storage tank, movement of air from the water storage tank to the container can be prevented.
Further, according to this configuration, when the inside of the water storage tank is full, the space between the water storage tank and the container can be closed, so that backflow (convection) of drinking water from the water storage tank to the container can be prevented, It can be said that it is more hygienic.

Further, in these configurations, the gas introduction device and the water conduit are connected by a connection pipe, and the check that allows only a fluid flow from the gas introduction device side to the water conduit side in the connection pipe. It can also be set as the structure which provided the valve.
If it does in this way, it can prevent that the drinking water in a container and a conduit pipe flows back into a gas introducing device.

  Similarly, for the purpose of preventing the drinking water in the container and the water conduit from flowing back and entering the gas introduction device, the gas introduction through the connection pipe through a position higher than the connection location to the water conduit. A configuration that reaches the apparatus can be adopted.

It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the introduction of gas from the gas introduction device into the water conduit is forcibly introduced with pressure when the inside of the container is in a negative pressure state.
That is, in each of the above-described configurations, when the inside of the container becomes negative due to the flow of drinking water to the water storage tank, the gas is naturally introduced from the gas introduction device so as to eliminate the negative pressure in the container However, a method of forcibly introducing the gas with pressure using a pump or a cylinder connected to the connecting pipe so that the negative pressure state is eliminated when the inside of the container becomes a negative pressure state can be considered. It is done. If it does in this way, cancellation of the negative pressure state in a container will be accelerated, the flow of drinking water from the container to a water storage tank will be promoted, and it can be said that the replenishment of drinking water to a water storage tank is smoother.

In addition, the following structures are employable as a drinking water supply method using these drinking water servers.
That is, the container can be attached to and detached from the water conduit extending upward from the water storage tank, and when the gas enters the container, the drinking water in the container flows into the water storage tank through the water conduit. The water supply pipe is pulled out from the water storage tank, and a supply valve that can be freely opened and closed is provided in the water supply pipe so that drinking water in the water storage tank can be supplied. Gas can be introduced into the water conduit from the gas introducing device, and when the inside of the container is in a negative pressure state, gas is introduced into the container through the water conduit from the gas introducing device, A drinking water supply method using a drinking water server, wherein the drinking water in the container is allowed to flow into a water storage tank.

  As described above, since the gas is introduced into the container from the gas introduction device through the water conduit as described above, the drinking water from the container to the water storage tank can be supplied without introducing the gas from the water storage tank to the container. Can flow down. For this reason, it becomes possible to suppress the drinking water in the water storage tank from touching the gas as much as possible.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the drinking water server according to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a hard resin container 1 is detachably attached to a water conduit 11 extending upward from a water storage tank 10 provided with a cooling device 29. The drinking water w flows down into the water storage tank 10 through the water conduit 11 due to its own weight (due to a drop).

The container 1 and the water storage tank 10 are housed in the container housing part 3 and the main body 4 of the drinking water server 2 shown in FIG. A water supply pipe 21 is drawn out from the water storage tank 10 and extends outside the main body 4, and a supply valve 20 that can be freely opened and closed is provided in the water supply pipe 21 (see FIG. 2).
If the supply valve 20 is opened, the drinking water w in the water storage tank 10 can be appropriately supplied from the supply unit 5 shown in FIG. 1 to a container such as an external cup or plastic bottle, and if the supply valve 20 is closed. The supply is stopped. The supply valve 20 can be opened and closed by operating a lever provided in the supply unit 5.

  Further, in this drinking water server 2, another water storage tank 10 provided with a heating device 31 below the water storage tank 10 (hereinafter, the water storage tank 10 provided with the heating device 31 is referred to as a “warm water tank 30”. The hot water tank 30 and the water storage tank 10 are connected to each other through a water supply pipe 32. The water supply pipe 32 is connected to the upper part of the water storage tank 10 and the lower part of the hot water tank 30. In this embodiment, the location of the hot water tank 30 is below the water storage tank 10, but the location of the hot water tank 30 is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the hot water tank 30 is located on the side of the water storage tank 10. Alternatively, a configuration arranged above or above is also conceivable.

  Through this water supply pipe 32, the drinking water w in the water storage tank 10 flows into the hot water tank 30 by its own weight. Note that the cooling device 29 can employ, for example, well-known cooling means having a function of cooling the drinking water w in the water storage tank 10 by flowing a refrigerant in the pipe, and the heating device 31 is energized. An electric heater or the like having a function of heating the drinking water w in the hot water tank 30 can be adopted.

  The hot water tank 30 and the heating device 31 are also accommodated in the main body 4 of the drinking water server 2 shown in FIG. A second water supply pipe 25 is drawn out from the hot water tank 30 and extends outside the main body 4, and a second supply valve 24 that can be opened and closed is provided in the second water supply pipe 25.

  If the second supply valve 24 is opened, the heated drinking water w in the hot water tank 30 can be appropriately supplied from the supply unit 6 shown in FIG. 1 to a container such as an external cup or plastic bottle. If 24 is closed, the supply will stop. Similarly, the second supply valve 24 can be opened and closed by operating a lever provided in the supply unit 6.

  Discharge pipes 23 and 27 with discharge valves 22 and 26 are provided at the bottoms of the water storage tank 10 and the hot water tank 30, respectively. Both the discharge valves 22, 26 are normally kept closed. By opening the discharge valves 22 and 26 respectively, foreign matter or the like that has settled at the bottom of the water storage tank 10 and the hot water tank 30 can be discharged together with the internal drinking water w.

Further, for example, the bottom of the water storage tank 10 or the hot water tank 30 may have a tapered shape that gradually narrows downward, and the discharge pipes 23 and 27 may be opened at the lowermost end of the tapered bottom. .
If it does in this way, it can be said that the discharge effect of a foreign material increases further.

  The container 1 containing the drinking water w is supplied to the market in a state in which the drinking water w that has been previously sterilized is sealed and sealed, and the container 1 is opened. A water guide pipe 11 extending upward from the water storage tank 10 can be inserted into the section.

As the attachment / detachment structure of the container 1, a known structure may be adopted, but in this embodiment, as described above, by attaching the water conduit 11 into the opening of the resin container 1, The resin container 1 is supported by a pedestal 17 and the liquid tightness between the opening and the water conduit 11 is maintained by packing or the like.
For this reason, the drinking water w in the container 1 flows down into the water storage tank 10 by its own weight through the water conduit 11 without spilling around.

  As described above, the liquid tightness is maintained between the inner periphery of the opening of the container 1 and the outer periphery of the conduit 11, but if there is a slightly spilled drinking water w, the drinking water w is The base 17 is discharged to the receiving portion 19 through discharge paths 18a and 18c provided at the bottom of the concave portion 17a. For this reason, the spilled water does not stay in the recess 17a of the base 17.

  A gas introducing device 40 is connected through the connecting pipe 41 in the middle of the water conduit 11. The gas introduction device 40 has a hollow air reservoir 43 inside, and the air reservoir 43 and the outside are separated by an air filter 44.

  Further, a check valve 42 that allows only the flow of fluid from the gas introduction device 40 side to the water conduit 11 side is provided in the middle of the connection pipe 41 that connects the gas introduction device 40 and the water conduit 11. Yes. The check valve 42 allows the flow of fluid (particularly air (gas) b) from the gas introduction device 40 side to the water conduit 11 side, and conversely, from the water conduit 11 side to the gas introduction device 40 side. The flow of fluid (especially drinking water w) is not allowed.

In addition, the connection pipe 41 passes through a position higher than the connection location to the water conduit 11 and reaches the gas introduction device 40. Specifically, as shown in the figure, it extends horizontally from the connection point to the water conduit 11, bends upward there, extends upward to a certain height, and then again horizontally. It extends to the air reservoir 43 of the gas introduction device 40.
The check valve 42 is provided in a portion of the connecting pipe 41 that extends in the vertical direction. Providing the check valve 42 in a portion extending in the vertical direction of the connecting pipe 41 is effective in preventing the backflow of the drinking water w.

  Further, a check valve 12 that allows only the flow of fluid from the container 1 side to the water storage tank 10 side is provided below the connection portion of the water conduit 11 to the gas introduction device 40. In this embodiment, the check valve 12 is provided at the lower end of the water conduit 11. This check valve 12 allows a flow of fluid (particularly drinking water w) from the container 1 side of the water conduit 11 to the water storage tank 10 side, and conversely, fluid from the water storage tank 10 side to the container 1 side. (In particular, the flow of drinking water w, air (gas) a, etc.) is not allowed.

  A vent hole 28 is provided at the upper end of the water storage tank 10. The vent hole 28 includes an exhaust valve 28 a as an exhaust unit for the water storage tank 10. The exhaust valve 28a closes the vent hole 28 when the water storage tank 10 becomes full to maintain the water full state in the water storage tank 10, and the gas a When the gas enters the state, the air hole 28 is opened and the gas a in the water storage tank 10 can be opened to the outside so as to be manually operated.

  The exhaust valve 28a is provided so as to face the convex portion 10a provided at the upper end of the water storage tank 10, and as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b), the valve body is moved by the urging force of an elastic member such as a spring. Energized in the valve closing direction. Further, the valve element moves in the valve opening direction by pushing the valve shaft (operation part) 28c by hand against the biasing force.

For this reason, for example, when the drinking water w in the container 1 runs out and is replaced with a new container 1, when air a enters the water storage tank 10, the air is on the liquid level of the drinking water w in the water storage tank 10. a is interposed, and the air a enters the convex portion 10a. At this time, if the valve shaft (operation part) 28c is pushed by hand, the exhaust valve 28a is opened, and the air a can be discharged to the outside through the vent hole 28. It is desirable that the exhaust valve 28a faces the uppermost part in the convex part 10a so that all the air a interposed in the convex part 10a can be discharged.
The exhaust valve 28a can also be used when the drinking water w is first put into the water storage tank 10 that does not contain the drinking water w.

  The operation of this drinking water server 2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, in a state where there is no drinking water w in the water storage tank 10, the container 1 is inserted into the water conduit 11 and the container 1 is fixed to the pedestal 17. . The drinking water w in the resin container 1 tends to gradually flow into the water storage tank 10 due to its own weight.

  When the drinking water w in the container 1 tries to flow down to the hot water tank 30 through the water storage tank 10 and the water supply pipe 32 by the head, the inside of the container 1 becomes negative pressure. For this reason, in order to eliminate the negative pressure, the air b is naturally introduced from the gas introduction device 40 into the water conduit 11. When the air b introduced from the gas introduction device 40 enters the container 1 through the water conduit 11, the negative pressure in the container 1 is eliminated by the penetration of the air b. When the negative pressure is eliminated, the drinking water w flows again from the container 1 to the hot water tank 30 through the water storage tank 10 and the water supply pipe 32.

  At this time, since the air filter 44 is provided in the air reservoir 43 of the gas introduction device 40, clean air b is supplied. It can be said that it is more preferable to attach an air b sterilization device such as an ultraviolet (UV) lamp or an ozone generator to the gas introduction device 40. Further, by connecting a cylinder or the like to the connection pipe 41, a gas b other than air sealed in the cylinder or the like is appropriately supplied so as to eliminate the negative pressure when the inside of the container 1 becomes a negative pressure. You may be able to do it.

  In addition, by providing the check valve 42 in the connection pipe 41, it is possible to prevent the drinking water w from flowing back to the gas introduction device 40 side when the negative pressure in the container 1 is eliminated.

When drinking water w flows from the container 1 to the water storage tank 10, air a is present in the water storage tank 10. For this reason, if the air pressure in the water storage tank 10 increases due to the flow of the drinking water w, the flow of the drinking water w automatically pauses due to the increase in the air pressure.
Therefore, if the exhaust valve 28a of the vent hole 28 provided in the upper part of the water storage tank 10 is opened to discharge the internal air a to the outside of the water storage tank 10, the drinking water w starts to flow again.

At this time, the exhaust valve 28a may be kept open for a certain time until a certain amount of drinking water w is accumulated in the water storage tank 10 and the hot water tank 30, or the drinking water w flows down. While watching the situation, the opening operation may be intermittently performed such as opening the exhaust valve 28a each time the flow stops.
The drinking water w also flows down to the water storage tank 10 and the hot water tank 30, and after the hot water tank 30 becomes full, the water level in the water storage tank 10 rises.
By exhausting all the air a in the water storage tank 10 through the vent hole 28, the water storage tank 10 finally becomes full as shown in FIG. During this time, if there is no drinking water w in the resin container 1, it may be replaced with a resin container 1 containing new drinking water w as appropriate.

  As shown in FIG. 4C, when the inside of the water storage tank 10 becomes full, the exhaust valve 28a is closed and the vent hole 28 is closed, the inside of the water storage tank 10 becomes high pressure with drinking water w. The drinking water w in the container 1 applies pressure to the connecting pipe 41 to eliminate the drop pressure, and pushes the check valve 42 toward the gas introduction device 40 side. For this reason, both the inside of the container 1 and the inside of the water storage tank 10 are maintained in a state in which high pressure is maintained, and the flow of the drinking water w ends.

  In this embodiment, since the check valve 12 is provided at the lower end of the water conduit 11, the air a or the drinking water w in the water storage tank 10 is prevented from flowing back to the container 1 side.

In addition, during the flow of the drinking water w, the air a is discharged in the hot water tank 30 as in the case of the water storage tank 10. That is, for example, when the flow of the drinking water w from the water supply pipe 32 stops, the second supply valve 24 is appropriately opened to discharge the internal air a to the outside of the hot water tank 30 through the second water supply pipe 25. Perform the operation.
Alternatively, exhaust means such as the vent hole 28 and the exhaust valve 28 a having the same function as the water storage tank 10 may be provided in the upper part of the hot water tank 30.

When the supply valve 20 is opened while the water storage tank 10 is full, the drinking water w in the water storage tank 10 is supplied to the outside through the supply unit 5 as shown in FIG. Is done.
At this time, the water level in the water storage tank 10 is temporarily lowered, but the exhaust valve 28a is kept closed, so that the water storage tank 10 is in a negative pressure state. Thus, since the inside of the water storage tank 10 is maintained in a negative pressure state, the drinking water w flows down from the container 1 so as to compensate for a decrease in the water level in the water storage tank 10. The flow of the drinking water w continues while the air b is being introduced into the container 1 from the gas introduction device 40 through the water conduit 11, and the water storage tank 10 becomes full and stops. For this reason, the inside of the water storage tank 10 is always maintained in a full water state.

  As described above, since the air b is introduced into the container 1 from the gas introduction device 40 through the water conduit 11, the water tank can be transferred from the container 1 without introducing the air a from the water tank 10 toward the container 1. The drinking water w can be made to flow down toward 10. For this reason, the inside of the water storage tank 10 is always maintained in a full water state, and it is possible to suppress the internal drinking water w from touching the air as much as possible.

  As described above, when the container 1 is replaced, the upper portion of the water storage tank 10, in particular, the convex portion 10 a provided at the upper end of the water storage tank 10, as shown in FIG. Air a may accumulate. At this time, if the exhaust valve 28a is operated and opened, the air a in the convex portion 10a can be discharged to the outside through the discharge paths 18b and 18c as shown in FIG. At this time, the drinking water w is also slightly discharged mixed with the air a, but the amount thereof is so small that it does not matter. The slightly discharged drinking water w is discharged to the outside through the discharge path 18b.

  When the air a is discharged in this way, the drinking water w further flows down from the container 1 so as to fill the gap in the convex portion 10a. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 4D, air b is introduced into the container from the gas introducing device 40 so that the inside of the container 1 becomes negative pressure and the negative pressure is eliminated.

  For this reason, the water level in the water storage tank 10 returns to a full water state as shown in FIG. 4 (c), that is, a state in which no air a is present, or even a small amount even if it is present. Thus, by appropriately opening and closing the exhaust valve 28a, the inside of the water storage tank 10 can be always kept full.

  In this embodiment, the exhaust valve 28a that opens and closes the vent hole 28 by manual operation is adopted as the exhaust means of the water storage tank 10, but exhaust means having other configurations can also be adopted.

For example, the exhaust means has a function of allowing the movement of the gas a from the water tank 10 to the outside of the water tank 10 and not allowing the movement of the gas a from the water tank 10 to the water tank 10. A valve-type exhaust valve 28a and an on-off valve 28b having a function of closing the vent hole 28 when the water storage tank 10 is full, and opening the vent hole 28 when the water level drops from the full state. It can be set as the structure provided with.
Further, a float valve type valve device can be adopted as the on-off valve 28b. If it is a float valve, the valve body is lighter than water. Therefore, when the water level in the water storage tank 10 drops, the vent hole 28 is automatically opened to discharge the gas a in the water storage tank 10, When the water level rises, the vent hole 28 can be automatically closed.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment in which a valve device having a float valve body is employed as the on-off valve 28b. In this embodiment, the open / close valve 28b is provided with a float valve body, and the water storage tank 10 is provided with only the water storage tank 10 provided with the cooling device 29. The installation of the hot water tank 30 is omitted. The exhaust valve 28a employs a check valve type valve device.
As a configuration of the drinking water server, both the hot water tank 30 provided with the heating device 31 and the water storage tank 10 provided with the cooling device 29 may be provided as in the above-described embodiment. It is good also as a structure which abbreviate | omitted the hot water tank 30 provided with the heating apparatus 31 like the form shown. Moreover, the structure which abbreviate | omitted the cooling device 29 of the water storage tank 10 is also considered.

  When the water level of the drinking water w in the water storage tank 10 is slightly lower than the full water level, the on-off valve 28b also lowers the float valve body as the water level drops. When the float valve body is lowered, the on-off valve 28b is opened. When the water level in the water storage tank 10 rises and becomes full, the float valve body also rises and closes the on-off valve 28b, and the water storage tank 10 can be sealed in the full water state.

  Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), the opening / closing valve 28b opens when the water level in the water storage tank 10 drops from a full state. However, since the check hole type exhaust valve 28a is provided in the upper part of the on-off valve 28b in the vent hole 28, the exhaust valve 28a does not open if the inside of the water storage tank 10 is in a negative pressure state. For this reason, the negative pressure state in the water storage tank 10 is maintained, and the flow of the drinking water w from the container 1 continues until the negative pressure state is eliminated. When the inside of the water storage tank 10 becomes full, the on-off valve 28b is closed.

  As shown in FIG. 5 (c), when the inside of the water storage tank 10 becomes full and the vent hole 28 is closed, the inside of the water storage tank 10 becomes high pressure with the drinking water w, so that the drinking water w in the container 1 is filled. Applies pressure to the connecting pipe 41 to eliminate the drop pressure, and pushes the check valve 42 toward the gas introduction device 40. For this reason, both the inside of the container 1 and the inside of the water storage tank 10 are maintained in a state in which high pressure is maintained, and the flow of the drinking water w ends.

  Further, when air a enters the water storage tank 10 due to replacement of the container 1 or the like, the water level in the water storage tank 10 is lowered, the on-off valve 28b is opened, and the air a is interposed so as to be pressurized. Then, since the exhaust valve 28a is also opened, the air a intervening in the water storage tank 10 is exhausted without remaining outside the water storage tank 10.

  When the air a is discharged in this way, the drinking water w further flows down from the container 1 so as to fill the gap in the water storage tank 10. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 5 (d), air b is introduced into the container from the gas introduction device 40 so that the negative pressure in the container 1 becomes negative and the negative pressure is eliminated. Is always kept full of water.

The front view of the server for drinking water of one embodiment Front view showing the internal structure of FIG. (A) (b) is a principal part enlarged view which shows the effect | action of an exhaust valve (A)-(d) is a front view which shows the effect | action of the same embodiment (A)-(d) is a front view which shows the effect | action of other embodiment. (A)-(c) is a front view which shows the effect | action of the server for conventional drinking water.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container 2 Drinking water server 3 Container storage part 4 Main body 5 Drinking water supply part (normal temperature water / cold water)
6 Drinking water supply section (hot water)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Water storage tank 10a Convex part 11 Water guide pipes 12, 14, 42 Check valve 17 Base 17a Concave parts 18a, 18b, 18c Drain path 19 Receiving part 20 Supply valve 21 Water supply pipe 22, 26 Drain valve 23, 27 Drain pipe 24 Second Supply valve (Supply valve)
25 Second water pipe (water pipe)
28 Ventilation hole 28a Exhaust valve (exhaust means)
28b On-off valve (exhaust means)
28c Valve shaft (operation part)
29 Cooling device 30 Hot water tank 31 Heating device 32 Water supply pipe 40 Gas introduction device 41 Connection pipe 43 Air reservoir 44 Air filter

Claims (6)

The container 1 can be attached to and detached from a water conduit 11 extending upward from the water storage tank 10, and when the gas b enters the container 1, the drinking water w in the container 1 enters the water storage tank 10 through the water conduit 11. Drinking water that is designed to flow down and that is provided with a supply valve 20 that can be opened and closed to the water supply pipe 21 by pulling out the water supply pipe 21 from the water storage tank 10 so that the drinking water w in the water storage tank 10 can be supplied. Server for
When the gas introducing device 40 is connected to the water conduit 11 so that the gas b can be introduced into the water conduit 11 from the gas introducing device 40, and the inside of the container 1 is in a negative pressure state, the gas introducing device The gas b enters the container 1 through the water conduit 11 from 40, and the drinking water w in the container 1 flows down into the water storage tank 10 due to the penetration of the gas b ,
The gas introduction device 40 and the water conduit 11 are connected by a connecting pipe 41, and the connecting pipe 41 is drawn from the water conduit 11 and extends upward to be higher than the connection location to the water conduit 11. Itaru the gas introduction device 40 through the is, in that connection pipe 41, the check valve 42 which allows only the flow of fluid from the gas introduction device 40 side to the water conduit 11 side from the top downwards drinking water for the server that is characterized in that provided in the direction to allow the flow.   A vent hole 28 is provided at the upper end of the water storage tank 10, and an exhaust means is provided in the vent hole 28. When the inside of the water storage tank 10 is filled with the exhaust means, the vent hole 28 is closed to store the water. The tank 10 can be maintained in a full state, and when the gas a is mixed in the water storage tank 10, the vent 28 is opened to release the gas a in the water storage tank 10 to the outside. The drinking water server according to claim 1, wherein the drinking water server can be made.   When the supply valve 20 is opened in a state where the water storage tank 10 is full, the exhaust means removes the external gas a in the water storage tank 10 even if the pressure inside the water storage tank 10 becomes negative. 3. The drinking water server according to claim 2, which has a function of maintaining a negative pressure state in the water storage tank 10 without passing through the water storage tank 10.   The exhaust means allows the movement of the gas a from the inside of the water storage tank 10 to the outside of the water storage tank 10 and has an exhaust valve 28a having a function that does not allow the movement of the gas a from the outside of the water storage tank 10 to the inside of the water storage tank 10. And an on-off valve 28b having a function of closing the vent hole 28 when the water storage tank 10 is full and opening the vent hole 28 when the water level is lowered from the full water state. The drinking water server according to claim 3.   The check valve 12 for allowing only the flow of fluid from the container 1 side to the water storage tank 10 side is provided below the connection location of the gas introduction device 40 in the water conduit 11. The server for drinking water according to any one of 1 to 4. When in the container 1 becomes a negative pressure state, to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that so as to forcibly introduce gas into the conduit 11 from the gas introduction device 40 The server for drinking water described.

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